China restaurant collapses during 80th birthday party, leaving 29 dead, dozens injured
It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse.
The Shanxi provincial government appointed a team to investigate the accident, Reuters reported.
While China has seen major improvements in industrial safety, building standards are sometimes ignored, particularly in rural areas such as Xiangfen county. The region lies in the heart of China's coal country, where thousands of miners have died in explosions, collapses, and floods over the years.
Residents told Chinese media outlet The Paper that the restaurant was originally a one-story building constructed over 20 years ago with prefabricated panels, the South China Morning Post reported. The building has since undergone several additions, including a second floor and underground level.
Provincial authorities launched inspections of all public buildings on Saturday, the outlet reported, citing the China News Service. Buildings that do not meet safety requirements or found built with illegal construction would be forced to closed until the proper standards were met.
